The Prestige (DVD)

The Prestige is a dark dark period drama set in Victorian England focusing on the lives of two magicians (The Great Danton and The Professor) and is a magnificent representation of the nineteenth century fascination for melodrama and music hall Magic was a popular act and required a lot of skill to execute successfully. As the film tells us: "Every great magic trick consists of three acts. The first act is called The Pledge; the magician shows you ...
...second act is called The Turn; the magician makes his ordinary something do something extraordinary. Now if you're looking for the secret... you won't find it, that's why there's a third act called, "The Prestige"; this is the part with the twists and turns, where lives hang in the balance, and you see something shocking you've never seen before." And it is in this vein that director Christopher Nolan sets out his film released in the UK in November ...

MAFARRIMOND 15.04.2007 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of The Prestige (DVD)

...days ago, I happened upon the HMV sale. Being a huge fan of DVDs, video games and CDs, I was quite impressed by my own restraint in only spending £20, but still managing to get four DVDs that I really wanted. However, that was still £20 more than my student budget allows, so I've decided that I can reduce how guilty I feel about buying those DVDs by reviewing them, as then I can make back some of the money that I spent. So, as you can probably tell ...
...bought was that of the film 'The Prestige'. I first saw this film a few months ago with some friends and fell in love with it immediately, so couldn't resist buying it for myself when I saw it for only £6. The film tells the story of a rivalry between two magicians in the 19th century, and their obsession with outdoing eachother and finding out eachother's secrets, largely at the expense of their personal life. Christian Bale plays the Londoner ...

charlsayslol 07.10.2008 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of The Prestige (DVD)

...- I've noticed over the last couple of years or so that there have been a few movies made about magicians and magic/illusions, this being one of them. I wasn't sure what I'd make of such a movie, as its set in the past and ive never really been much interested in period dramas but I thought I'd give it a try, as I used to be interested in magic when I was younger and thought it might be interesting. This is what I thought of it. - Main Credits ...
...Nolan, Christopher Nolan Based on the novel by - Christopher Priest Producers - Christopher Nolan, Aaron Ryder, Emma Thomas Associate Producer - Jordan Goldberg Executive Producers - Christopher Ball, Valerie Dean, Charles J.D. Schlissel, William Tyrer Cinematography - Wally Pfister (director of photography) - Story (incl. main acting cast) - The Prestige is set in the late 1800s and early 1900s, when Magicians and conjurers got big audiences ...

IzzyS 16.03.2008 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of The Prestige (DVD)

At the end of the nineteenth century, two magicians, Alfred Borden and Robert Angier, work together on the same act until one day, an accident occurs and Angier's wife dies. Heart-broken and blaming Borden for her death, he splits from Borden and the two become rivals. When Borden meets and marries Sarah and comes up with the ultimate magic trick, Angier is overcome with jealousy and vows to come up with another, even better trick. In his search ...
...that of Thomas Edison. As the rivalry between Borden and Angier increases, it becomes obvious that they are both losing touch with reality. Who will win their self-appointed war? More to the point, will they both live? More and more often these days, I am disappointed by Hollywood films that just don't match up to the hype that surrounds their release. With The Prestige, I was fairly sure that this wouldn't happen - I don't think I have read a single ...

sunmeilan 16.09.2007 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of The Prestige (DVD)

...Nolan (of Memento, Batman Begins, The Dark Knight ...), I discovered just what I'd been missing. For my money, this is simply an outstanding film in so many ways. A strong cast produce performances to match reputations while the plot twists and turns, skillfully keeping its secrets from the viewer. Stylistically too, The Prestige is a great success. It captures the look and feel of the era, when Magic, Trickery and Science were rather less distinct ...
...title alludes to the final act of the typical tripartite magic trick. First comes "the Pledge", in which the magician shows the audience something apparently quite regular, ordinary, like a hat, a coin or watch, or a box, and demonstrates its normality. Secondly, "the Turn"; the magician makes something extraordinary happen - the coin vanishes, the lady in the box is sawed in half. Then "the Prestige" - what the film calls "... the twists and turns, ...

Puggers 02.01.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of The Prestige (DVD)

This is a review of the film only so contains no info on the DVD extras (I don't get a chance to watch the extra's with the kids, I'm lucky if I manage to watch the film). Synopsis From acclaimed filmmaker Christopher Nolan ("Memento," "Batman Begins"), comes a mysterious story of two magicians whose intense rivalry leads them on a life-long battle for supremacy with dangerous and deadly consequences. From the time that they first met as young ...
...fierce enemies-for-life and consequently jeopardizing the lives of everyone around them. Full of twists and turns, THE PRESTIGE is set against the backdrop of turn-of-the-century London, with an exceptional cast that includes two-time Oscar winner Michael Caine, Scarlett Johansson and David Bowie. The Story Robert (Hugh Jackman) and Alfred (Christian Bale) are friends who are employed by a magician while they both learn the tricks of the trade. ...

hollywoodmum 23.09.2007 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of The Prestige (DVD)

...to watch this movie in the cinema after hearing Jonathan Ross rave about it on TV. With Hugh Jackman (X-men), Christian Bale (American Psycho), David Bowie (The Man Who Fell to Earth) and Michael Caine (Alfie and many many others) starring and Christopher Nolan (Memento, Insomnia) directing, it sounded intriguing to say the least! I never got round to going to the cinema for it so I bought the DVD and finally watched it the weekend just gone. And ...
...hadn't waited so long! The whole plot centers around the idea that a magic trick consists of three parts: the pledge (the magician shows you something ordinary), the turn (the magician does something to the object e.g. make it disappear) and the prestige (the object is brought back), of which the prestige is obviously the most impressive part, and according to this movie, worth getting your hands dirty over. Two young magicians, Robert Angier (Jackman) ...

gl1tterbug 23.07.2007 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of The Prestige (DVD)

...glad that we did in the end! I can honestly say that I think The Prestige is one of the best things that I have watched in a long, long time! The film is based on the book The Prestige by Christopher Priest, and has been adapted into a film by the director Christopher Nolan and his brother, of Batman Begins fame. They have done a good job in making the film interesting viewing which leaves you gripped, and completely mesmerised by. The premise ...
...trick consists of 3 parts: the Pledge, the Turn and the Prestige. In this film, we are trying to find out the prestige of the trick Borden performs, and makes Angier mad by trying to emulate and better it. The films stars Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Michael Caine and Scarlett Johannsen in the leading roles, Piper Perabo also makes a fleeting appearance early on in the film. Jackman and Bale are young keen magicians, who want to learn the art of ...

mummy2harry 27.06.2007 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of The Prestige (DVD)

...trick includes three stages, The Pledge - Where the magician shows the audience something that appears ordinary but is probably not, making use of misdirection. The Turn - Where the magician makes the ordinary act extraordinary. And The Prestige - Where the effect of the illusion is produced. There are "twists and turns, where lives hang in the balance and you see something shocking you've never seen before." The Prestige tells the story of two ...
...who from the earliest years of their magical careers, who in the watch of accomplished stage engineer Cutter (Michael Caine), are friendly rivals. But one night when Borden's attempt to change a trick results in the death of Angier's wife (Pipa Perado) their relationship changes, making them fierce enemies on the magic front and jeopardizing the lives of everyone they hold close. As they both try to out-do each other with their magic Borden completes ...

Jamsa123 29.01.2008 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of The Prestige (DVD)

...topped his game by producing the very best Batman film of its entire existence, Christopher Nolan turns up with Christian Bale in his lead role once again. A story about the smoke and mirror world of illusion, Nolan once again delivers a visual tour de force. Set in the 19th century, the film opens with the apparent murder of magician Robert Angier at the hands of arch enemy and professional competitor Alfred Borden. As the court case sets about ...
...when Angier's wife died at the hands of Borden in a magic illusion that went wrong. The two of them engage in professional warfare, as Angier's obsession with both revenge and finding out Borden's magic secrets. The film climaxes in a shocking twist that doesn't quite match the jaw dropping moment where Bruce Willis discovers his mortality in the sixth sense, but borders on equal awe realisation. Nolan is fast becoming one of cinema's most creative ...

bilbob20 09.02.2007 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of The Prestige (DVD)

Its the end of the Nineteenth Century and two magicians, Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman - Van Helsing and X-Men trilogy) and Alfred Borden (Christian Bale - Batman Begins and American Psycho) work under the influence of Cutter (Michael Caine - Italian Job and Miss Congeniality). Angiers beloved wife dies in an accident which he blames on Borden, this causes an intense rivalry between the two. A life-long battle for supremacy emerges making the two fierce ...
...Sabotage, theft and murder overcome the two magicians lives on the path to success, both trying to be the best. Borden shows the world the 'ultimate magic trick', Angier astonished at the trick and tries to copy it but he believes it isn't as good, turning him into a man full of obsession, jealousy and a man willing to get his hand's dirty. The Director, Christopher Nolan made a name for himself from his films 'Momento' and 'Batman Begins' and ...

MichaelKleo 14.05.2007 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of The Prestige (DVD)

...a magic trick consists of the Pledge, the Turn and the Prestige. I've know idea whether real magicians use that language but it pervades the film so pay attention. Also pay attention to the fact the story is presented in a number of interwoven flashbacks - one of those films is wroth watching twice to get the bits you missed the first time. The story is about the rivalry of two stage magicians, who though they are friends and colleagues when they ...
...as 'plants' in the audience of Cutter's current employer, Afred Borden (Christopher Bale) and Robert Angier(Hugh Jackman) go their separate ways after a tragic accident, which Angier blames Borden for. Borden sets up his own act with help from the mysterious Mr Fallon and Cutter helps Angier to build up his show without 'getting his hands dirty' - i.e. killing the props. Angier's initial drive for revenge is diverted when he sees Borden's great ...

simonheffer 19.03.2007 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of The Prestige (DVD)

We both enjoyed this movie deeply, it gave us great enjoyment in watching performances of a greatly directed, produced and acted movie. What "The Prestige" does very well is recreate an era of show business history approaching the turn of the century in which rivalry between magicians was important and intense. The means of the complex illusions are stunningly brought to life by means of neatly detailed equipment that replicate the authentic mechanics of Victorian dexterousness. A good deal of the film rings very true, such as the passionate obsessions of the lead characters to be the best and surpass all others. It's an effortless step to recognize that such steadfast determination spills over into irreconcilable territory, as rival magicians polished Rupert Angier (a spellbinding performance by Hugh Jackman) and bold Alfred Borden (Christian Bale smoothly playing a threatening working class man) each seek to inflict systematic retribution upon the other. ...

Astro-Chef 10.08.2007
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of The Prestige (DVD)

I don't think this film is as good as the hype that surounded it when it first came out, but this film is a perfect viewing film. Hugh Jackman & Christian Bale are fantastic as the rival magicians, doing absoultley everything to be the best magician possible. It is a hard film to follow as it's very jumpy, but for me I managed to work out the ending within 40 minutes. It also has a lot of great actors in it as well as Jackman & Bale, Michael Cane is fantastic, like usual he makes his role memorable. Scarlette Johanson I think was wrongly casted, I believe Piper Perebo would have been much better as her charecter. I recomment this film to anyone who loves magic! ...

DixieChick10 14.08.2007
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of The Prestige (DVD)

...plot and impressive special effects. The only negative about this movie, in my opinion, was the slow start, by which I mean it took a fairly long time for the plot to begin moving forward and the beginning was therefore tedious. I very nearly stopped watching in the beginning but I was very glad I didn't. I would recommend staying with this film, even if you begin to feel bored in the beginning as once the plot begins to come into play it has a very ...
...i was exceedingly impressed with the ending, which I will not talk too much about for not wanting to spoil it for those who have not yet watched the film, but it was definitely exceptional and well scripted. The performance by all of the actors and actresses involved was also very good. The emotions and motives of each character were delivered in such a way that you could almost believe you were watching fact rather than fiction. Overall, I definitely ...

anakha6 25.08.2008 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of The Prestige (DVD)